Mississippi Capitol

The Legislature has until the end of the day Monday to take action on several bills or they will die.

These bills all were passed by their original chamber by Thursday but have failed to clear a procedural hurdle in order to be sent to the other chamber for action.

Several of the bills have gotten significant attention this legislative session.

For example, in the Senate, Senate Bill 2657 would give the governor control of the Department of Mental Health. The was the brainchild of Republicans and had the backing of both Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and Gov. Phil Bryant.

But the bill came under fire from members of both parties on the Senate floor, ultimately passing by one vote, 25-24. It was held on a motion to reconsider and that motion must be tabled by a majority of senators today to release the bill to the House for consideration.

The bill would let the governor appoint the executive director of the department, and it would demote the Board of Mental Health from a governing body to an advisory council. State leaders have long criticized the Department of Mental Health for what they’ve said is a bloated staff and budget.

Proponents say putting the agency under the governor will make it more accontable. Opponents have said doing so would politicize the delivery of needed services.

The original legislation would have given the governor the reins to the Departments of Health and Rehabilitation Services as well, but those agencies were removed from the bill through amendments.

Similarly in the House there has been much discussion about House Bill 1425 , which would give the governor the authority to veto regulations of any state “occupational licensing board” controlled by “active market participants.”

Proponents say this bill would prevent some lawsuits from being filed. Opponents say this bill removes consolidates more state agencies under the supervision of the governor.

A similar bill was killed in a Senate committee.

Other Senate bills facing a deadline today to survive:

Senate Bill 2634: Create new fund for BP settlement funds for “projects benefiting the Gulf Coast.”

Senate Bill 2625: Cleans up problems encountered after 2016’s special fund sweeps law.

Senate Bill 2632: State agencies and universities cannot use public dollars to pay for outside lobbyists.

Senate Bill 2710: No “sanctuary cities” would be permitted in Mississippi.

In the House, these bills were up for reconsideration:

House Bill 704Provides board members of the Chickasawhay Natural Gas District per diem for continuing education training.

House Bill 1210 — Require youth courts to provide redacted copies of child’s records to child’s parent or guardian upon request of that parent or guardian.

House Bill 920 — Would provide the option of sentencing children to life without parole instead of certain crimes automatically triggering life without parole for children, which the U.S. Supreme Court has said is unconstitutional.

 

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Editor-in-Chief Adam Ganucheau oversees Mississippi's largest newsroom. He was the lead editor of Mississippi Today's 2023 Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Backchannel" investigation, which exposed the roles of high-profile players in the state's welfare scandal. During Adam's tenure as editor, Mississippi Today has won numerous national, regional and statewide journalism prizes for its journalism. Under his leadership, the newsroom won a 2023 Pulitzer Prize and was named a finalist for a 2024 Pulitzer Prize; won two Goldsmith Prizes for Investigative Reporting; won a Collier Prize for State Government Accountability; won a Livingston Award; won a Sidney Award; and was awarded the National Press Club's highest honor for press freedom.

He previously worked as a staff reporter for Mississippi Today, AL.com, The Birmingham News, and the Clarion Ledger. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He earned his bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Mississippi in 2014.

Ryan L. Nave, a native of University City, Mo., served as Mississippi Today's editor-in-chief from May 2018 until April 2020. Ryan began his career with Mississippi Today February 2016 as an original member of the editorial team. He became news editor August 2016. Ryan has a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has worked for Illinois Times and served as news editor for the Jackson Free Press.